Deja vu all over again.
Groundhog Day Part II.
"Haven't we met somewhere before?"
Call it whatever you want but we are eight Saturdays away from the Brent Venables 2.0 season of Oklahoma football.
The first three games last year were exactly what Venables promised upon his return in 2021.
You remember the "Physical, Punishing, Relentless, Suffocating, ..." mantra.
Reggie Grimes looked like a new player surging on with four sacks in the first two games and was among the national leaders.
Linebackers Danny Stutsman and newcomer Jaren Kanak were flying around hitting everything that moved.
Former starting linebacker Dashaun White found new life in Venables new "Cheetah" position and also looked like a different player.
Heck, in addition to the sacks, we even were forcing turnovers!
Blowouts at home over UTEP and Kent State and a handling of former longtime rival Nebraska in Lincoln had the Sooner Nation delirious.
Then reality set in.
A depleted roster that was hastily assembled with portal transfers and a resurrected recruiting class began to show signs of weakness.
And collapse.
An unfortunate first half injury to starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel significantly slowed the passing attack against eventual CFP finalist TCU in Fort Worth.
And the Oklahoma defense was steamrolled.
That loss was immediately followed the next week in Dallas by a humiliating 49-0 thrashing against Texas.
The worse loss for Oklahoma in the 118 years of the Red River Rivalry series.
How bad was it?
Oklahoma replaced backup quarterback Davis Beville with H-back Brayden Willis in a shotgun wildcat formation for most of the game.
It was as futile an effort by Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl as in forever.
Something Texas alumni and Governor Greg Abbott chided the Sooners about on his Twitter feed this week:
OUch!
A stark reminder of just how far away this team actually was following the 2021 departure of former head coach Lincoln Riley and four assistants, an eventual Heisman Trophy winning quarterback and a slew of transfers.
But all because our starting quarterback went down in Fort Worth?
Partly to blame.
Because without Dillon Gabriel the Oklahoma offense was anemic against TCU and Texas and that in turn affected the defense and exposed our depth.
Or lack thereof.
Complementary football.
You hear it all the time from coaches.
But it is true.
Oklahoma's offense rebounded when Gabriel returned the following week after Dallas.
But the Sooner offense had difficulty all year sustaining drives and the three and outs put pressure on the Oklahoma defense.
The already depleted Oklahoma defense.
We saw similar situations the previous five years.
Sooner fans are full of examples of questionable play calls on third and short that ended up forcing another three and out on offense.
But this was supposed to be different under a Brent Venables defense.
You know the "Physical, Punishing, Relentless, Suffocating, ..." message.
Even Venables discounted the offensive time of possession issue by saying it didn't matter because the defense was supposed to be ready.
But even Brent Venables can't overcome an offense that was at the bottom of the national leaders in time of possession.
Which resulted in a passing defense that was ranked among the bottom at 121st in Total Passing Yards (461 yards per game) and 98th in scoring defense (30.0 points per game), good for PFF's 79th best defense in the country.
We still believe.
So does Venables as he had this to say with the Sooners schedule release recently:
"If we just get better on defense, we're going to win 10-plus games and have a chance to compete and hang a banner up at the end of the year," Venables said. "But talk's cheap."
Yes, it is coach.
But last season's 6-7 finish exposed all of the roster depth flaws that Venables inherited and showed just how far Oklahoma has to go to be ready for the SEC transition in 2024.
Here is what Venables had to say today at the Big XII Media Day in Arlington, Texas:
"We didn't have the competitive depth a year ago. We started year pretty strong. We didn't finish year very well, in particular when we didn't have a bunch of juice left (in 4th quarter of games). Competitive depth will lead to better competitive stamina."
But there is hope on the horizon.
A talented, but mostly untested group of Venables first two recruiting class signees will merge with the most portal transfers in Oklahoma history to join the small nucleus of returning players from the pre-Venables return in 2022.
Venables said today in Arlington that 97 of 123 players on the current roster are first or second year players.
The renewed energy in Norman is palpable.
That combined with the expanded Big XII schedule which removed Baylor, Kansas State and Texas Tech from the Oklahoma schedule offers a pathway to immediate success in 2023.
And hoping to reverse a forgettable year of Sooner football.
So, with that recap let's take a look at the Oklahoma defense ahead of Brent Venables second season in Norman.
The Defense: D-Line
You've heard it a million times.
Defense wins championships.
It surely does.
And the defense starts upfront with the defensive line.
A position group that frankly hasn't been very good for a while.
Despite six consecutive seasons of Big XII Championships from 2015 to 2020, the Oklahoma defense has been one of the worst in Power 5 play.
And the reason for the embarrassing CFP losses to Georgia, Alabama and LSU along the way.
Some of those results had to do with the former head coach and his emphasis on offensive play calling that either scored very quickly or resulted in quick possessions.
Either way the results forced the Oklahoma defense back on the field with little rest in between.
Then, the knock against the wide open, high-flung, Air Raid Big XII scoring offenses was that it was difficult to recruit the 5-star defensive linemen.
Who wants to come to the Big XII and chase college football's version of 7-on-7 all over the field?
And this fact is true as well.
Oklahoma hasn't signed a 5-star defensive tackle with significant results on the field since Gerald McCoy in 2006.
Because Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, Ohio State and others were reloading their already established pipelines.
In recent years, Oklahoma has lost out on recruiting battles to Texas A&M for 5-stars Lebbeus Overton and David Hicks.
But a slew of them is on the horizon for Brent Venables and team in the 2024 recruiting class.
- David Stone--5-star.
- Williams Nwaneri--5-star
- Dominick McKinley--5-star
- Jayden Jackson--4-star (just announced his commitment to Oklahoma today)
Presently, the 2024 class ranks 33rd overall in the nation with 12 "hard commits" led by the signing of 5-star Davon Mitchell, the 6'4" 250-pound #1 ranked tight end in the nation from Los Alamitos, California (before today's signing of Jayden Jackson.)
But if Oklahoma can land the assembled crew of star defensive lineman listed above, watch out!
Brent Venables, Todd Bates and Miguel Chavis were busy rebuilding the depth chart of the defensive line this past offseason.
With a ton of signees to show for it.
It remains to be seen how effective this group will be, but the unit won't suffer because of depth.
Here is who Venables and company signed in the offseason through the portal:
- Rondell Bothroyd--Wake Forest
- Jacob Lacey--Notre Dame
- Trace Ford--Oklahoma State
- Davon Sears--Texas State
- Da'Jon Terry--Tennessee
- Phillip Paea--Utah State/Michigan
- Dasan McCullough--Indiana
This group will give the Oklahoma defensive line quality competitive depth.
Something that has been lacking in Norman for several years.
Bothroyd was an All-ACC lineman at Wake Forest and Lacey, Ford and McCullough have stood out at Notre Dame, Oklahoma State and Indiana.
McCullough was a first team Freshman All-America as named by ESPN at linebacker. He is listed at linebacker on the roster. However, I expect him to play rush end at times as well due to his speed, length and athleticism.
And lord knows the Sooners need help rushing the passer because after Grimes’ four sacks in the first two games last season Oklahoma only got to the quarterback 24 times the rest of the season.
And nine of those sacks are no longer on the roster.
Results that didn’t put the Sooners in the national top 50 rankings in sacks and earned a total defensive ranking of 8th in the Big XII.
I would consider Sears, Terry and Paea as works in progress who have huge upside potential for development.
Here’s what Coach Venables had to say about Paea, who is recovering from an ACL injury early in 2022:
"I think his best football is still in front of him, but he’s a big, strong, powerful body guy. Another guy that, you know, can play the game, particularly in the run game."
And Terry:
"He brings size and power up the middle of the defense that you've got to have. Been an incredible, humble, hard-working guy. He's fit right in because he's low-maintenance."
Years past you would frown on loading up with a ton of transfers. Usually, they have been transfers for a reason with past problems academically, injuries or off-field issues.
It also was a sign that you were lacking in talent.
I mean how many transfers is Nick Saban and Kirby Smart adding at Bama and Georgia?
But now with the NCAA extending the 25-man roster exception another year...
The transfer portal is an instant savings account of players who can come in and help a team like Oklahoma rebuild its roster immediately.
And the Sooners aren’t alone in the transfer portal race:
Interestingly, seven of these teams have coaches in their second year (LSU, USC, Miami, Oregon, Oklahoma) or first year with Deion Sanders at Colorado and Hugh Freeze at Auburn..
Plus, the cupboard is not exactly bare of returning talent either.
A pair of Seniors: a Redshirt Fifth and Redshirt Senior return.
Jordan Kelley #88 and Isaiah Coe #94 return at tackle to anchor the defensive line.
Both are veterans and have played a lot of quality snaps in Norman.
Something Brent Venables places a high priority on for his defense.
And, returning transfer Jonah Laulu, from Hawai'i, also returns and is being moved inside from end.
They will be joined by returnees:
- Ethan Downs
- Marcus Stripling
- Reggie Grimes
- R. Mason Thomas
- Gracen Halton
- Kevin Gilliam
Ethan Downs was the only Sooner named to the pre-season All Big XII team that was announced recently. A two-year starter, Downs has benefitted from the return of strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt. He recently announced on his Twitter account that he has increased his weight to 270 pounds.
He weighed 240 pounds upon his arrival in Norman.
Also, Gracen Halton recently announced he was up to 290 pounds which is up from the 260 pounds he arrived in Norman with as a freshman last year.
Both will be expected to play quality snaps in 2023.
Others have also been rumored to be up substantially in weight this offseason thanks to Schmidt's off-season regimen.
In addition, several true freshmen from the 2023 recruiting class have arrived as well:
- Adepoju Adebawore
- Markus Strong
- Tyler Wein
- Drew Heinig
- Ashton Sanders
The Sooners coaches have been raving accolades on Adebawore all spring and summer. The 5-star, 6'5" 225-pounder has an 85" wingspan, 10" hands and a verified 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
So, just based upon the numbers, the Oklahoma defensive line will be better than 2022.
The end product will be a result of the coaching development they receive and applying to on the field results.
Linebackers
Returning starter Danny Stutsman headlines the Oklahoma linebackers this year.
Stutsman was the Sooners leading tackler in 2022 with 128 tackles. He seemed to settle in as the season progressed with Brent Venables defensive scheme. Look for Stutsman to have another stellar season.
Joining Stutsman at linebacker will be Sophomore Jaren Kanak.
The 6'2" 232-pounder from Hays, Kansas was being recruited by Venables while at Clemson. He followed Venables to Oklahoma for his true freshman season in 2022.
He showed signs of brilliance in limited playing time and should fit the bill for the prototypical linebacker Venables wants to complement Stutsman.
A pair of returning redshirt freshmen will provide adequate backups.
Kip Lewis and Kobie McKenzie were highly heralded freshman last season.
Lewis played sparingly and McKenzie was saved for a redshirt season.
Expect both to see significant playing time this year.
Lewis is the smaller of the two at 6'1" and 208 pounds but is lightning quick and will bring pressure from all over the field.
McKenzie at 6'2" and 240 pounds is the perfect sized specimen for a Brent Venables linebacker. Sooner coaches are expecting big things from the Lubbock, Texas native.
Redshirt junior Shane Witter returns to provide experience and depth.
Previously mentioned with the defensive linemen, highly touted Indiana transfer Dason McCullough also will provide experience and talent from potentially several positions including the Venables fave "Cheetah," the hybrid linebacker, safety position he coveted at Clemson.
The Sooners also picked up another transfer linebacker this spring in Konnor Near from Division II Ferris State.
Here is what Coach Brent Venables had to say about Near:
"He's a four-year starter. He's an All-American. He's a captain. He's a national champion."
"He's gonna be able to lead a defense."
Three incoming freshmen also have received rave reviews this off-season and we will see if they are able to provide any meaningful depth:
- Phil Picciotti
- Samuel Omosigho
- Lewis Carter
Carter was singled out by Coach Venables this week in Arlington and made social media feeds earlier this week when Danny Stutsman announced at Big XII media day that Carter recently bench pressed 350 lbs. six times!
So, frontline talent-wise the Sooners should be more experienced at linebacker after a year in the Venables defensive scheme.
Let's pray nothing happens to Stutsman or Kanak.
Experienced depth could become an issue if the injury bug hits as Venables recently alluded to when explaining why all of the transfers:
“My fear at linebacker is that we’ve got one linebacker that’s ever started a college football game in Danny Stutsman.”
Secondary
The Oklahoma secondary should be safety-heavy in 2023 and it very well could end up being the strength of the unit with apologies to all of the talk about the new and improved defensive line.
Returning starters Billy Bowman and Key Lawrence return.
Bowman the junior from Denton, Texas seemed more comfortable in his second year in Norman and should be one of the top returnees in 2023 to a defense that was 121st in Total Passing Yards last year.
Lawrence, the Tennesse transfer, played well at times last season and will be counted on for significant snaps again this year.
Joining Bowman and Lawrence will be sophomore Robert Spears-Jennings from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and Texas Tech transfer Reggie Pearson.
Sooner fans will remember Pearson for his punishing hit on Sooner quarterback Dillon Gabriel on the first snap of overtime in Lubbock last season.
Justin Harrington also returns.
Harrington will be a redshirt senior in 2023 and has had a storied past to arrive in Norman. But he found a believer in Brent Venables last season and is poised to be a significant part of the secondary at either safety or he can slide over to the "Cheetah" position.
And don't forget the Sooners signed 5-star safety Peyton Bowen from Denton, Texas. A teammate of fellow 5-star and Sooner quarterback signee Jackson Arnold, Bowen made a last-minute switch to Oklahoma from Oregon on signing day.
Bowen is one of two 5-star Sooner defensive signees along with Adepoju Adebaware at defensive end.
So, that is six safeties who should be counted on to provide depth and talent at a position of strength for the Oklahoma defense in 2023.
The story is far from that of the safety position at cornerback.
Veteran Woodi Washington returns for his redshirt senior season and should anchor one side of the field. Washington has 23 starts for the Sooners and will be by far the most experienced of the group.
Gentry Williams, a highly touted sophomore and 4-star 2022 signee from Tulsa's
Booker T. Washington High School, will vie for the other starting position on the other side of the field.
Williams saw action in 12 games and totaled seven tackles in limited action in 2022.
After that it is anyone's guess as the Sooners lost starters Jaden Davis to Miami via the transfer portal and C.J. Coldon to the NFL draft.
First up will be portal transfer Kendel Dolby from Northeastern A&M in Oklahoma. Dolby was the #1 rated junior college corner in the nation.
He had 68 tackles, six tackles for loss, two interceptions, one sack and eight pass breakups in two seasons. Additionally, he was named the Southwest Junior College Football Conference Player of the Year in 2022.
Here's hoping Dolby is the real deal and can contribute right off the bat.
Two of the other top contenders for playing time will come from the incoming freshman class.
Signees Jasiah Wagoner and Makari Vickers are getting all of the early attention from coaches.
Both were early signees and were available for spring ball and that experience should help them get on the field early.
Jayden Rowe, a 4-star recruit in 2022 from Tulsa Union, and Kani Walker, a Louisville transfer who appeared in six games last year, also return to round out the Oklahoma cornerback room.
Rowe only saw action in three games last year and his season was cut short due to injuries, so the book is still out on him. Walker also saw little action last year after transferring from Louisville and had difficulty finding playing time.
But both Rowe and Walker had good spring practices and we will see if they can add to the unit.
So, it is a lightly experienced unit at cornerback that has only one true veteran returning with experience in Woodi Washington.
After that it is anyone's guess how good this group will be or who will be starting once it is all said and done.
Summary
The 2022 season was the most disappointing one in 25 years of Oklahoma football.
The Sooners suffered their first losing season since 1998 and only the 13th one in 128 years of playing football.
Brent Venables was brought in to fix the defense.
And 2022 was a huge disappointment.
But hope springs eternal in Norman.
A back-to-back Top 10 signing class bolstered by a record influx of portal transfers will team up with the returning nucleus of players Venables inherited. Venables said today in Arlington that 97 of 123 players on the current roster are first or second year guys.
Coaching development will be essential to honing this mixed bag of players from all points from the spectrum. This Oklahoma defense is truly the United Nations of players!
And it will be on Brent Venables to make sure that his complex defensive schemes not only get communicated but transferred into meaningful results on the field.
I am not saying the Sooners can't improve from a 6-7 season a year ago with this group.
Far from it.
They benefit from one of the easiest schedules with non-conference games against Arkansas State, SMU and Tulsa combined with the Big XII schedule makers incorporating newcomers BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati and Houston.
Oklahoma will not play games against Baylor, Kansas State and Texas Tech this season due to the accommodation of the four newcomers to the conference--all teams which beat the Sooners in 2022.
And the Las Vegas bookmakers have already come out and favored Oklahoma in 11 games on the schedule.
Combine this with the fact that Oklahoma lost five games last year by one possession, including four by a field goal, and a 10-win season is not out of the question in 2023.
Just like the head ball coach said.
It will be up to Brent Venables to live up to his comments from earlier this summer to make sure it happens.
One final season in the Big XII before joining the SEC demands it.
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